This is the headline story on Sky News and BBC Radio 1 News this morning in the UK:
A cage fighting event which included children as young as eight has created a storm of controversy.
Footage of the bouts posted on the Internet have provoked an outcry with the British Cage Fighting Association describing parents who allow their children to take part as "morons".
The event was staged at the Greenlands New Labour Social Club in Preston.
At one point, one of the schoolboy fighters is seen to break down in tears.
Lancashire police say they will now investigate whether children were put at risk by taking part in the event.
But the British Medical Association (BMA) has condemned the practice describing the Preston event as "particularly disturbing" as the children are not wearing headguards.
It said: "Boxing and cage fighting are sometimes defended on the grounds that children learn to work through their aggression with discipline and control.
"The BMA believes there are many other sports, such as athletics, swimming, judo and football, which require discipline but do not pose the same threat of brain injury."
The NSPCC has joined the condemnation of the fights saying that at that age children's bodies are still developing physically and mentally.
But father Nick Hartley told Sky News that he was happy for his nine-year-old son Kian to take part.
"It's more wrestling than fighting... there's no punching and kicking, it's a controlled sport.
"He (Kian) enjoys doing it, so leave him to do it."
Michelle Anderson owns the club which staged the event. She said: "The children were grappling. The cage fighting only comes when they get older.
"We hold boxing events here and kids fight then and nobody's complained about that.
"It's just the name cage fighting that people are getting annoyed at or they don't know anything about it so they criticise it because they know nothing about."
One of the men responsible for training the children is Andy Whiteside.
He said: "It's being blown out of all proportion.
"(Our gym) takes part in tournaments where it's the exact same, it just isn't in a cage."
Despite the criticism the club says it intends to stage similar events in the future. 
There is a video showing footage of the event on the Sky News website. I can't link it here from my phone but if someone could do that it would be much appreciated.
I've seen the video and to be honest the boys are just grappling.
Is this another case of the media sensationalising "Cage Fighting" or is it irresponsible of parents to let their children appear in these events?
Kids play football full contact, wrestling, baseball, hockey what the fuck is the difference from MMa? My son has been playing football for 4 years and he is only 9. Hockey is just as brutal sometimes.
FUTA WON(c) - Kids play football full contact, wrestling, baseball, hockey what the fuck is the difference from MMa? My son has been playing football for 4 years and he is only 9. Hockey is just as brutal sometimes.
There is nothing more on the video than a basic grappling match between 2 young boys. The only difference is that it is in a cage and there is a tidy sized crowd there.
They are on about that the kids have no protective gear on but they aren't striking, there's no need. Kids are doing exactly the same thing in Ju-Jitsu schools up and down the country everyday. As soon as it's put in a cage it is seen as "Barbaric".
This is the embed for the video if someone can post it for me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sz9tzIG3DQ
For the benefit of our USA cousins - this story is getting major coverage over here, its on the prime time news and is on the front page of the metro this morning.
Its depressing, feels like the UK is now going to take a step backwards because of this. The press are seeing the 'cage' and the crowd with 2 boys scrapping. However, boys this age 'fight' everyday at boxing class and events, karate, judo etc etc and nobody bats an eyelid. Its the cage which is the catalyst :-(
these 2 kids are doing nothing but grappling anyway, but the news reports are saying stuff like 'DANGER OF SEVERE BRAIN INJURY'.
Argh!!!!
Any parent that allows their child to get hit in the head, no matter what sport (boxing, mma, football,) are morons... brain mapping research shows alot of problems from physical to emotional that people suffer from as adults result from head trauma - and not even concussive head trauma... just a single blow to the head.
Kids shouldnt even be playing soccer or aloud to hit the ball with their heads.
MMALOGIC - Any parent that allows their child to get hit in the head, no matter what sport (boxing, mma, football,) are morons... brain mapping research shows alot of problems from physical to emotional that people suffer from as adults result from head trauma - and not even concussive head trauma... just a single blow to the head.
Kids shouldnt even be playing soccer or aloud to hit the ball with their heads.
This was a grappling match though. No striking.
If there is no striking I don't see what the problem is.
TheWelshLurker -what? then what's all the fuss about? this is no different than a BJJ competition.... ignore me.MMALOGIC - Any parent that allows their child to get hit in the head, no matter what sport (boxing, mma, football,) are morons... brain mapping research shows alot of problems from physical to emotional that people suffer from as adults result from head trauma - and not even concussive head trauma... just a single blow to the head.This was a grappling match though. No striking.
Kids shouldnt even be playing soccer or aloud to hit the ball with their heads.
It's just arsehole reporters being ignorant, but having said that they should try push the MMA brand rather than 'cagefighting' and people might stop thinking it's like a no holds barred barbaric sport. People need educating
Just seen a couple of min segment on this on BBC Breakfast, reading out letters from viewers. To answer ^^^, the problem for most apparently is the environment they were in, a 'cage' with lots of adults standing around cheering. Some letters stating the obvious, I.e if there's no striking, then it is as safe (or as dangerous) as many martial arts or sports like rugby.
Anyway, this will set back mma in UK again as every viewer is instantly repulsed by the phrase 'cage fighting', probably picturing some WWE cage with 'no escape' and obviously imagining it has no rules.
Ok so they are gradually reporting on this through the morning.
It seems that 'people' are angry because the kids were wrestling (thankfully they've stopped saying they were cagefighting) without protective gear and head gear. Granted you probably don't see full contact rugby at that age.
The ref lifted both their arms at the end. I can see why ignorant (I use that word in it's normal function not as an insult) adults might find it a bit uncomfortable as these kids come out like fighters with a big rowdy crowd (and I'll make my own assumption that as they were there for an actual mma event, then a large number of the crowd was probably drinking) and even though they clearly are not striking, they are rolling around over the top of a big 'cagefighting championship' banner.
If its grappling only no striking fine with it.
Parents allow their kids to play hockery or football, with out being villainized. The risk of head trauma is way higher there then a standard grappling match. Regardless of in a cage or on a mat.
grappling only is very healthy for a child and adults... it stimulates the whole brain... right and left hemispheres. when your limbs are crossed or your left is resisting someones right and with all the twists and movements it's a very stimulating whole brain excercise which doesnt occur very much in standard school curriculums.
FUTA WON(c) - Kids play football full contact, wrestling, baseball, hockey what the fuck is the difference from MMa? My son has been playing football for 4 years and he is only 9. Hockey is just as brutal sometimes.
Kids hockey used to be brutal, but now a days it's pretty tame actually. Most kids can't hit until 14, some places allow it at 12. And in a lot of places they now have a zero tolerance policy with headshots (Which is actually a reason why I'm thinking about not officiating any hockey this year, because we have been told to ignore height as a factor, so if a 6'0" kid hits a 5'5" kid he's pretty much gonna get kicked out of the game)
Q. How was this promoted? If it was promoted as a 'cage fight', and took place in a cage in front of a crowd, then really the promoters were irresponsible and only have themselves to blame. Quit blaming the media, and think for a second how things might be perceived.
Oh and that guy who was complaining a while back that BBC didn't cover MMA? Well, I guess you got your wish ! ha ha
There was a similar outcry in Australia sometime back, where a well known Australian Muay Thai fighter staged a prize fight between two young girls. It was a stupid idea in my opinion. It would be different if it was an exhibition match in front of other children with their parents, but in this case I believe it was before a normal fight.
At this age, I don't agree with boxing or any sport that involves blows to the head. In this case I understand striking wasn't allowed, but I still question young children participating in an activity where the eventual goal is beating the crap out of each other. At that age, I don't believe chokes or submissions are appropriate. Better for kids to take part in Wrestling for example, or other sports. When they are older and are free to choose what they want to do, then they can do what activity they want. At that age I can imagine their parents could have pressured them, or they took part to gain their parents approval. How freely did they really choose? I see a lot of parents pushing their kids into BJJ even those who are too lazy to do it themselves.
Personally I love sports like BJJ, Judo, Wrestling etc. MMA I have mixed feelings about due to the long term head injuries. (Yes I have the same issues with boxing, football, etc). I really worry about today's fighters when they reach 50 or so.
The Government are in on the act now. Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt described the event as "barbaric" and "disgusting".
The promoter of this event could do with a kick in the nuts.
Lets storm and flood the News Sites comments pages and try to fight off the ignorant trolls, vote down the idiots and vote up the sensible people!! Come on my UG bretheren!! They may take our Indy Shows but they will never take our televised MMA ! ! ! ! ! (runs off screaming)
Nakedwelshman -Lets storm and flood the News Sites comments pages and try to fight off the ignorant trolls, vote down the idiots and vote up the sensible people!! Come on my UG bretheren!! They may take our Indy Shows but they will never take our televised MMA ! ! ! ! ! (runs off screaming)
Before you start your one man war on the British media, do a fellow Welshman a favour and embed this video for my fellow iPhone users.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sz9tzIG3DQ
Thank you. Stay naked.